After nearly two decades at a law firm I dearly loved, I left the comfort of those hallowed halls for a new adventure when I started consulting with Rain BDM earlier this year. “Scared” doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt. But I also felt excited and joyful and adventurous. I had a literal and figurative pep in my step again. I learned I love what I do and am objectively pretty good at it. I am also still very much in learning mode as I continue to work with diverse lawyers and firms (and know that a great idea for one firm could be a living nightmare for another). Getting to know clients and their needs has been an absolute highlight of this year for me.
Professional association relationships deepened for me this year, too. I was invited to speak at a few conferences and retreats and share winning strategies and tactics with legal professionals, a.k.a. my kindred spirits. I learned a lot of important lessons through these relationships forged at associations throughout my career, but this year, I deeply understood the importance of the genuine and authentic ones. It revs my engine when I connect with others in meaningful ways. Whether I share a success or hardship, it is comforting to know I have close people in my corner who will help celebrate or navigate life’s wild twists and turns. Developing a personal board of directors is clutch, especially when navigating new professional waters.
Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable has been a common theme for me this year, too. While I have spent my entire career with an in-house perspective of marketing, communications, and business development, I had to get comfortable wearing a consulting hat. I am now officially a business partner with lawyers and law firms, which has been a bit of a mindset shift. The consultant life is often perceived as one of leisure, where you work when and how you want. While true in some respects, the hustle and business acumen required to be a successful consultant should not be overlooked. Being a disciplined self-starter is a huge factor in successfully growing a business, but so is getting used to rejection. There will be more “not at this times” than “when can you get starteds” as you deliberately reach out for new work. The same advice I have given lawyers for years stands: ask for the business. Don’t be gross and salesy about it, though. Being helpful is the way to build longevity and authenticity in relationships.
